Improvement in self-raising seats for water-closets



1. E. WALT-ER.- Self-Raising seats for Water-Closets No. 162,437.Patented April 20,I'875.

I THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0rLlTH.398r.4l PARK PLAGE,N-Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. WALTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-RAISINGSEATS FOR WATER-CLOSETS.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,437, dated April20, 1875; application filed March 27, 1875.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. WALTER, of Baltimore city, State ofMaryland, have invented a new and Improved Self-Raising Sea-t forWater-Closets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccom 'ianying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a watercloset box, with parts brokenaway to show the devices for maintaining the seat in a verticalposition. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with the seat down andparts broken away.

This invention relates to certain improvements in seats forwater'closets; and it consists in two hinges having a common pintle,upon which, between the hinges, two parts of a spiral spring are woundin opposite directions from the middle, the central parts of the springbeing secured to the frame-work ofthe basin or closet, and the twoextreme ends of the spring being inserted in holes in the edges of theseat to elevate the same.

In the drawing, A represents the frame or box surrounding the basin of awater-closet, and B is the seat. 0 are hinges, which attach said seat tothe frame A, having wings a, that are made curved in shape to adapt theseat to be attached to the frame by means of a tablejoint edge, tosecure a better finish. The said hinges (3 have a common pintle, D,which extends from one to the other of the hinges a distance sufficientto receive the sections of the spiral spring. Around the pintle arewound, in opposite direction from the middle, the two parts E E of thespring. These portions of the spring may be made of one and the samepiece of metal, having a loop in the middle, by which they are screwedto the frame-work of the basin; or they may be separate springs, butwound in reverse directions, as shown, and have their separate endsattached to the frame of the basin in any desirable way. The extremeends of the two sections of the spring are extended up into holes boredin the edges of the seat, and are securely held therein to elevate thesaid seat. In constructing my improved seat, I may reverse the positionsof the springs, so as to attach the central ends of the springs to theseat, and the extreme ends to the frame-work, if such change be founddesirable. F is a cylindrical casing of sheet metal, which is attachedto the seat in such a way as to encompass the spiral springs. Saidcasing moves with the seat, while it presents a bettter finish; alsoexcludes all dirt and foreign matter, which would obstruct the automaticoperation of the spring. By means of this arrangement and constructionof parts the seat is always maintained in a vertical position when notin use, and is not liable to become dirty by persons standing thereon,or from slop-water thrown therein. The arrangement admits also of thebasin being used as a urinal, in such a manner as to keep the seatalways clean and free from water. In addition to its other'advantages,also, the device is simple, cheap, and easily applied to anywater-closet without alteration or injury.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Thecombination of the hinges Q, a common pintle, D, and the portions E E ofthe spiral spring, wound in opposite direction from the middle, andattached to the seat at the ends, and to the frame-work at the center,or vice versa, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the hinges G, a common pintle, D, the spiralsprings E E, and the sheet-metal casing F, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 24th day ofMarch, 1875. J. E. \VALTER. Witnesses:

OHAs. A. PETTIT, SoLoN G. KEMON.

